Tamdhu 29 Years Old MI Cars (Moon-Import)

Moon-Import selected this Tamdhu, a 29 year old Speyside malt and bottled at 43%. The outturn was 176 bottles. Tamdhu was founded in 1897 by a group of blenders in Knockando, Speyside, and it was revived by Ian Macleod Distillers in 2013. Ian Macleod runs Tamdhu alongside Glengoyne and Rosebank.

The spirit was made in copper stills and filled into sherry seasoned oak, for a fragrant, fruity spirit with weight for the cask. A refill American oak cask held it, keeping the malt to the fore. Long ageing brings a dense dried fruit, leather and a mellow oak spice. First fill Oloroso casks drive the rich, dried fruit character Tamdhu is known for. The Spey valley's cool air gives a slow, even maturation in the warehouses. Tamdhu was built in 1897 by a consortium of blenders led by William Grant. The arrival of the Strathspey railway in the 1860s made the distillery possible. For decades its malt fed blends such as the Famous Grouse and Cutty Sark.

At 43% it is supple and rich. Honeyed vanilla and apple come through from the oak. The mouthfeel is rich, the fruit carried on a sherried body. The finish runs rich, nutty and spiced. This is a deep, fruity Speyside single malt.